Defense Policy / Programs

Obama Signs US Defense Budget for 2017Sputnik 24 Dec 2016 -- Outgoing President Barack Obama has signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to set the budget for the US Department of Defense, the White House announced in a release.

President visits Air Force Combatant CommandCNA 24 Dec 2016 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) visited the Air Force Combatant Command Friday to review the Air Force's training and exercise operations, the Presidential Office said in a statement Saturday.

Beijing Sends 'Clear Signal' for US to Stick to 'One-China' PolicySputnik 24 Dec 2016 -- With Donald Trump's inauguration now less than a month away, China reiterates the importance of honoring "key interests' in bilateral ties, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. In an interview with Sputnik China, political analyst Andrei Korneyev commented on the significance of Mr. Yi's statement for relations between China and the US.

Saudi airstrikes kill nine Yemeni kids, womenPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- Nine Yemeni civilians, all of them women and children, have been killed and several others injured in a Saudi airstrike on a residential area in Yemen's southwestern province of Ibb.

Syria reinforces Homs push after Aleppo winPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- The Syrian military, in high spirits after liberating Syria's second city of Aleppo from militants, has stepped up its counterterrorism push in Homs Province farther to the south.

Bombings, mortar attacks claim 10 lives across IraqPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- Police and medical officials in Iraq say at least ten people have been killed in a series of bombings and mortar strikes across the country as government forces and allied fighters press ahead with a massive operation to flush Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of the northern city of Mosul.

Netanyahu Takes Diplomatic Action Against Sponsors of UN ResolutionVOA 24 Dec 2016 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking diplomatic action against countries that co-sponsored the U.N. Security Council resolution against the buildup of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as a capitol for a future state.

Reaction to US Vote at UN Security Council is Swift, MixedVOA 24 Dec 2016 -- The United States abstained from voting Friday at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution calling for Israel to stop its "settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory." The abstention opened the way for the other 14 members of the council to unanimously pass the resolution to a round of applause in the chamber.

Netanyahu responsible for UN rebuke of Israel: Obama admin.Press TV 24 Dec 2016 -- US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes has told the whining Israeli prime minister that only he is responsible for Washington's decision to allow the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israel for illegal settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories.

News Reports

Obama Expands Magnitsky Act GloballySputnik 24 Dec 2016 -- Outgoing US President Barack Obama has signed into law the annual defense policy bill to set the 2017 budget for the Department of Defense in which he expanded the use of the Magnitsky Act.

Iran, P5+1 publish restricted documents of JCPOAPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- Iran and the P5+1 group of countries have released some previously restricted documents about the nuclear agreement they signed last year to support the argument that Tehran is not exceeding the limits imposed on its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iran, P5+1 to meet in January over US bans renewalPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- A high-level commission monitoring the implementation of last year's nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers plans to meet in Vienna on January 10 to discuss the recent move by the United States to renew the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA).

North Korea Defiant as Rivals Undergo Uncertain ChangeVOA 24 Dec 2016 -- Undeterred by international rebukes and increased sanctions in 2016, North Korea set forth to advance and legitimize its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, but then paused suddenly, most likely to assess unexpected political changes underway in the United States and South Korea.

No political preconditions for cross-strait exchanges: MACCNA 24 Dec 2016 -- Setting political preconditions for exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is not conducive to a normal and healthy development of cross-strait relations, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Saturday.

Opposing Congo parties near deal on power transitionPress TV 24 Dec 2016 -- Political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo have stopped negotiations before finalizing a power transition agreement, under which President Joseph Kabila will leave office next year.